Eugene Ray Brannon, 85, of Marcus passed away on Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at the Cherokee Villa in Cherokee, Iowa. A Memorial Service will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, July 7, 2014 at the Earnest – Johnson Funeral Home in Marcus. Rev. Kevin Roop of Peace Lutheran Church in Marcus will officiate. Military honors will be conducted by F.I. Goodburn Post #517 of the American Legion. Visitation will begin at 12:00 noon on Monday at the funeral home.

Eugene Ray Brannon was born on May 18, 1929 in Tecumseh, Oklahoma to William Henry and Leona (Horton) Brannon. He was raised and educated in Tecumseh. Eugene’s life was full of adventure. After his education he began to travel and work throughout the United States. He and a friend even rode horse back from Oklahoma to California. Eugene enlisted in the United States Army on September 1, 1950. He served during the Korean War with Co. C, 120 Engineering Battalion. He earned an honorable discharge on June 1, 1952. After the war, Eugene moved to California for a brief time before moving to Arizona where he worked as a deputy sheriff.

In 1960, Eugene was working on a pipeline project and found his way to Marcus, Iowa. He met Darlene Steffen and they were united in marriage on January 6, 1961 at Peace Lutheran Church in Marcus. They made their home in Sioux City, Iowa and Omaha, Nebraska. Eugene worked as a security officer at the University of Nebraska. In the early 70’s the family returned to Marcus. Eugene worked with rural water and various construction projects in the area. In 1980 he was injured on a construction site and was forced into early retirement. During his retirement years, Eugene enjoyed reading, mysteries and westerns.

He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Darlene of Marcus, Iowa; three sons, Keith and his wife Karen of Lavaca, Arkansas, Todd and his significant other Paige of Tacoma, Washington and Shane of Marcus, Iowa; grandchildren, Joshua (Michele) Brannon, Janelle (Jonathan) Halbrooke and Nicole (significant other Jay Mattsen); step-grandchild, Connor Peoples; great-grandchildren, Evan and Alexandria Holbrooke and Liam Mattsen; step-great-grandchildren, Jessica and Jacob Mattsen; sisters, Jeanette Dean and her husband Lewis of Washington, Oklahoma and Ola Mae Frazier of Stillwater, Oklahoma; brothers, Billy Joe and his wife Julie of Bonifay, Florida, and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Lenora McCoy; and brothers, Anderson Geddes “A.G.”, Jack, Leon and Karin Dean.